The free, virtual workshop will take place on zoom at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 15 and the JRC also will have a space at City Hall where people can watch the presentation.

JRC Urban Core Director Frank Besse said the three historic districts in Jamestown include downtown, Lakeview district, and Forest Heights. He said those who choose to participate in the program can receive a tax credit on their New York State income tax, “You come up with a project and you have that project reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office, or what we call SHPO. They approve it and the work is then done. And you will get some paperwork from SHPO that says, ‘Hey, you passed the test,’ and then that is given to your accountant and they do their magic. But basically, you’ll have a credit that’s 20% if it’s a residential property. 20% of the value of the work.”

Besse said there is a $5,000 minimum threshold to trigger that credit. He said if you don’t have a state income tax liability, that credit turns into a refund.

JRC Neighborhood Project Coordinator Mary Maxwell said the City is working on applying to the state to add a fourth historic district on the west side.

She said the Lakeview district, which was approved in 2017, has had $88,000 invested in properties. The downtown district, which was approved in 2014, has seen $27 million reinvested by those taking advantage of the historic tax credits.

Pre-registration is required for the workshop and can be done at PreservationBuffaloNiagara.org. Those who wish to attend the presentation in person, or who want more information, should contact Mary Maxwell at mary@jamestownrenaissance.org or call (716) 708-6964.

Jamestown City Council

Chautauqua Art Gallery owner Leslie Calimeri and Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Urban Core Director Frank Besse will present their Downtown ArtScape Banner project to council.

JRC Neighborhood Coordinator Mary Maxwell also will be presenting to the Housing Committee about a Historic Tax Credit Workshop.

The Finance Committee is expected to continue a discussion on American Rescue Plan funds.

And the Public Safety Committee will review a block party application for an event by Jensen British Sports Cars at the National Comedy Center to be held on Saturday, June 8.

The Public Works Committee meeting has been canceled due to lack of agenda items.

The Housing Committee will meet at 6:45 p.m. with Finance and Public Safety committees meeting at 7:00 p.m. The full City Council work session will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Police Training Room located on the fourth floor of City Hall. The public is welcome to attend all meetings with the full work session being streamed on jamestownny.gov.

Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Neighborhood Project Director Mary Maxwell presents on “Paint Jamestown” program to the City Council Housing Committee

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation‘s ‘Paint Jamestown’ program is looking for additional funding in order to expand.

Neighborhood Project Director Mary Maxwell presented on the program to the City Council Housing Committee.

She said the program started in 2019 where if homeowners painted their houses with historic color schemes, they could receive a 25%, or $2,500, reimbursement on costs, “So, so far, the total for three years – we’ve done seven properties, $34,000 has been invested, $27,000 was (home)owner (invested), and the Jamestown Renaissance paid $7,709, which is 22%. So we’re getting a good return on our money.”

Maxwell said 8 applicants are signed up for 2022. She said the reimbursement rate has been raised to 30%, or $3,000. Currently, the JRC has $15,547 of the $24,000 needed for the program.

Maxwell said the program is currently only happening in the target areas due to staff and financial shortages, “That is Allen Park-UPMC has one. We’re moving out of that and going into the northside, so we’re about to present it to the northside people. I don’t like to present this and the Renaissance Block Challenge at the same time. People get confused. What I would like to see is some American Rescue funds and take this all over the city.”

Those looking for more information on the Paint Jamestown program may contact Mary Maxwell at mary@jamestownrenaissance.org.

City Council also heard a presentation from Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation Executive Director Joshua Freifeld on home improvement grant programs.

Freifeld discussed the Restore program, Access to Homes program, and Access to Heroes program.

In order to qualify, Freifeld said the homeowner has to be current on the house’s mortgage and taxes, as well as have homeowner’s insurance. He said homeowners also must meet any income requirements required. A 3-year lien is also put on the property to prevent the homeowner from selling the house immediately after work is done.

For more information on CHRIC’s programs, call 716-753-4650.

Jamestown City Council

Jamestown Renaissance Corporation‘s Mary Maxwell will do a presentation of the Paint Jamestown Program at the Housing Committee meeting at 6:45 p.m.

Chautauqua Home Rehab & Improvement Corporation Executive Director Joshua Freifeld will present at the full work session about new housing grant programs.

The Public Safety Committee will review two special event permit applications including one by the City for the 74th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Allen Park on Saturday, April 16. The other event permit application is from the Jamestown Community Learning Council for a “Roll and Read” event scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 10. That event will feature groups of children and adults walking to various stations around the city and listening to stories read by a community volunteer.

The City Council committee meetings start at 6:45 p.m. with the full work session beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the fourth floor Police Training Room. The work session will be livestreamed and all meetings are open to the public.

Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Northside Renaissance Block Challenge Target Area

A section of the city’s northside will be the target area for Jamestown Renaissance Corporation‘s Neighborhood Block Challenge Program.

Neighborhood Coordinator Mary Maxwell gave a presentation to the City Council Housing Committee on the program for 2022. It targets an area bordered by Buffalo Street east to Sturges Street, with Euclid Avenue and Kingsbury Street forming the south border and North Main Street forming the west border.

The Renaissance Block Challenge encourages groups of six neighbors or more within the targeted area to create a cluster to work on exterior improvements to their properties.

Participating property owners can receive matching funds up to $3,000.

Pre-applications for the program must be received by August 1, 2022 with cluster finalists announced in January 2023. The pre-application will be available on JRC’s website at jamestownrenaissance.org under “Healthy Neighborhoods” starting March 1, 2022.

Online and in-person workshops will be held in March and April about the program. For more information, email Mary Maxwell at mary@jamestownrenaissance.org or call 716-708-6964.

The Wellman Building, 403 Lakeview Ave., and 11 Broadhead Ave. are all properties that have an opportunity to participate in the Historic District Tax credit program.

MEDIA RELEASE

JAMESTOWN – One of the biggest challenges for Jamestown’s revitalization is the financial burden of renovating historic buildings. Grants and loan programs from the city, state, and foundations are available to help fill financial gaps however developers often need more support to sensitively restore older buildings and carry projects through to completion.

Beginning in 2013, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) worked closely with the City to formally nominate the downtown Jamestown commercial district for historic designation. By November 2014, the district consisted of over 100 downtown properties listed on both the State and National historic registers. The New York State (NYS) and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit programs can be combined to cover 40% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures.

With the downtown historic district listed, JRC turned its sights to the Jamestown neighborhoods. Adding the designation of historic district to a neighborhood uniquely benefits our community, because unlike most states, NYS makes historic preservation tax credits available to homeowners. Guided by a 1993 city-wide intensive historical survey, several neighborhoods stood out for possible nomination. At the top of the list was the Lakeview Avenue and Forest Height’s neighborhoods. The Lakeview Avenue Historic District was created in 2015. This fall, the Forest Height’s Historic District will be added as Jamestown’s third Historic District.  For homeowners located within a historic district, there is a 20% tax credit available from the NYS for qualified projects.

For the Downtown Jamestown Historic District securing the historical designation means most property owners can tap into historic preservation tax credits, one of the most lucrative and effective subsidies of recent years. The current federal and NYS tax credit programs have enabled much of the recent revitalization work in Buffalo and other parts of the state. Giving downtown Jamestown property owners access to this subsidy significantly increases the chances of renovation downtown, improves the quality of the downtown environment, and increases the inventory of available space. Over time, this stimulates demand, which brings new investments, rising rents, higher property values, a more stable financial picture for building owners, and a stronger tax base for the city. The Gokey, Key Bank and the Wellman Buildings, along with the Covenant Manor Apartments, are examples of those that have been able to take advantage of these tax credits.

The Lakeview Historic District is the first residential neighborhood in Jamestown to have been nominated. JRC worked with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to define the boundaries of the Lakeview district to be as broad as possible to encompass 200 property owners making them eligible for the tax credits. In just two years, a total of $88,000 has been invested in SHPO-approved improvements to eligible historic properties in this historic district. The property owners report that the SHPO staff was kind, understanding and helpful in the tax credit paperwork process.

The Forest Heights Historic District, with over 140 properties, is important to the historic development of Jamestown and contains a distinct mix of buildings in various architectural styles. Some properties in the neighborhood are individually listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places, including the former home of Governor Reuben E. Fenton. Architectural styles in Forest Heights include Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, and other vernacular types of structures.

“Jamestown has some unique and outstanding architecture that needs to be preserved,” says Mary Maxwell, JRC Neighborhood Project Director. “The JRC is eager to select the next neighborhood to nominate for historic district designation. “

JRC hopes these incentive will continue to assist the revitalization of important neighborhoods and prevent additional buildings from falling into disrepair or becoming vacant.

Want to know more about this program and how you may be able to take advantage of these renovation grants?

Watch this mini tax credit workshop.

Still have questions about finalizing your homeowner historic tax credit application?

Join us for our next tax credit webinar with Preserve Buffalo Niagara.

Zoom Tax Credit workshop is planned for Wednesday, August 12^th

• Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM
• preservationbuffaloniagara.org
• ATTENTION: To get to the webinar log-in details for the August 12th event, you must pre-register on our website. https://preservationbuffaloniagara.org/events/historic-tax-credit-webinar-august/
• Once you’ve registered you’ll get the information needed to join in.

2019 GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show title sponsor Mike’s Nursery

JAMESTOWN – Spring is on its way and so is the annual GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show.

Presented by Mike’s Nursery, the event will take place on Saturday, March 30 at the Northwest Arena from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Occupying both rinks of the arena, the event this year has more than 65 vendors and over 15 workshops lined up by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. Admission is free.

“This event has grown year after year; we started with 14 vendors at the Renaissance Center and now we will be filling both rinks of the arena. We are excited for the community to learn of the programs and services of returning vendors, and meet some new faces as well,” Linnea Carlson, Public Market Manager for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation.

“The whole community gathers at this event. You will see more people at the fair than you would on a Sunday at Wegmans,” said Mary Maxwell, Neighborhood Project Associate. “This is our biggest event yet, and we are beyond excited for the community to kickoff spring with the workshops and activities planned.”

Vendors scheduled to attend include nurseries, contractors, landscape designers, craft vendors, free children’s activities, Jamestown Public Market vendors, food vendors, neighborhood clusters, and more.

Not only is entrance to the event free, there will also be 15 free workshops taking place throughout the day, and several interactive educational opportunities on the ice. The workshops are designed to focus on gardening and home improvement and are led by local gardeners, business owners, and community groups.Returning again this year is the Kids Zone, offering free face painting and children’s activities. Jamestown Public Market vendors will also offer a taste of the summer market.

The GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show is presented by Mike’s Nursery. Owner Mike Krauth and his staff will be giving away free tomato seedlings to every show attendee while supplies last, as well as provide the chance for community members to meet with animals from Little Angels Animal Sanctuary.

The first 500 people to the event will receive a free reusable grocery tote courtesy of Wegmans in Jamestown. The event is also graciously sponsored by The Resource Center, Community Bank, N.A., Vintage Home Design, RSVP, Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program, The Jamestown Parks Department, and Jamestown Up Close.

For a complete list of vendors and workshop schedule visit the GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show website: GrowJamestown.com or check out the event’s Facebook page.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation makes Jamestown better through inspiration, action, and celebration.

For more information about Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, visit JamestownRenaissance.org or call 716-489-3491. You can also learn more about the organization by visiting their Facebook page.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE

Originally airing Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s Neighborhood Program coordinator Mary Maxwell and Public Market coordinator Linnea Carlson about several programs and events in the works for the JRC in the coming weeks and months – including the Neighborhood Block Challenge, the new Paint Jamestown Program, and the upcoming Home and Garden Show on March 30.

“This event is a great way to kick off spring and get everyone in the mood for gardening and yardwork. We have a good mix of vendors with many returning from previous years, but you’ll see some new faces too” says Zach Agett, Marketing and Events Manager for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation.

• RELATED: LISTEN TO WRFA INTERVIEW WITH ZACH AGETT, MARY MAXWELL

“No other event in the area features home and garden education and hands-on activities like the GROW Jamestown event,” said Mary Maxwell, Neighborhood Project Associate. “We’ve continued to grow the event and we are expecting this to be our best year yet!” Vendors scheduled to attend include nurseries, contractors, landscape designers, craft vendors, food vendors, neighborhood clusters, and more.

Not only is entrance to the event free, but there will be 12 free workshops taking place throughout the day. The workshops are designed to focus on gardening and home improvement and are led by local gardeners, business owners, and community groups. The schedule is posted online at www.growjamestown.com, and the first workshops will begin at 10:30am.

The GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show is presented by Mike’s Nursery. Owner Mike Krauth and his staff will be giving away free tomato seedlings to every show attendee while supplies last. Also, the first 500 people to the event will receive a free reusable grocery tote courtesy of Wegmans in Jamestown. The event is also graciously sponsored by Lowe’s Pro Services in Warren, The Resource Center, Stone & Outdoor Living Center, RSVP, Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program, The Jamestown Parks Department, and Jamestown Up Close.

For a complete list of vendors visit the GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show website: www.growjamestown.com or check out the event’s Facebook page.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is a public-private partnership supporting downtown and neighborhood revitalization through stakeholder engagement, innovation, and reinvestment in the greater Jamestown, New York, area.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is back with its popular GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show, presented by Mikes Nursery and scheduled for Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Northwest Arena in downtown Jamestown.

The free event is being promoted as a one-stop shop for residents to get their home and gardens ready for the spring season.

Features of this year’s GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show include landscape designers, craft vendors, home improvement experts, kid’s craft activities, local nonprofit organizations, DIY demonstrations, prizes, food and retail vendors, gardening workshops, and live chainsaw carving.

Additionally sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement, The Resource Center, Stone & Outdoor Living Center, Chautauqua County RSVP, Chautauqua County Master Gardeners, Jamestown Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department, GreenUp Jamestown, and Jamestown Up Close.

For more information about the 2018 GROW Jamestown Garden Fair and Home Show, visit the event’s page at the Jamestown Renaissance Corportion’s website.